Oil Companies Step Up Exploration Drilling Plans Offshore Suriname

Oil and gas companies hoping to create their own exploration success stories, following Exxon Mobil Corp. and partners’ impressive string of discoveries offshore Guyana, are progressing drilling plans offshore neighboring Suriname.

Working with partners Chevron Corp. and Hess Corp., Kosmos Energy Ltd. on Aug. 6 said it plans to begin drilling operations for the Pontoenoe-1 well offshore Suriname in mid-August. Drilling is expected to last about 60 days.

“Pontoenoe is the first of up to three independent prospects in Block 42 and is a similar play type to the Turbot and Longtail discoveries located approximately 70 km to the west in Guyana,” Kosmos Energy CEO Andy Inglis said on a call with analysts.

Both Turbot and Longtail were discovered by Exxon Mobil southeast of the Liza Field. Combined, the fields—located in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana—have estimated recoverable resources of more than 500 million barrels of oil equivalent.